Braiding-machine.



R. C. RAHM.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, 1908. 933,341 Patented Sept. 7, 1909.

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Rahm" [al] Hahn,

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BRAIDING MACHINE. APPLIGATION FILED APB. e, 190B.

933,341 Patented Sept. 7, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Z-ber [er] Har/7m, ammo R. C. RAHM. BRAIDING MAGHNB. APPLICATION FILED APR.6, 1908. 933,341 Patented Sept. 7, 1909.

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wi h1 mozo alitoznu UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

3.01am CARL man, or WYoMrssING, PENNSYLVANIA, Asseico'n ro TEXTILE MACHINE worms, or wromrssme, PENNSYLVANIA, A conronA'rIoN or PENN- SYLVVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

BRAIDING-MAUHINE.

Patented sept. 7, ieee.

Application filed April 6, 1908. Serial No. 425,329.

To. all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ronn'r CARL RAHM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Wyomissing, in .the county of Berks. and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulv Improve' ments. in Braiding-Machines, of which the follow-ing, is a specification.

My inventionrelates to braiding machines and my main object is to provide an i1nproved construction whereby two or more tubular braids may be formed simultaneously, :either separately, or' unitedly in whole or part as a compound braid; with capacity for clzlangino` at will from the'separate to the compound orm for -desied portions ofthe length produced; and with. provision for introducing cores, as. electric conductors,

in the tubular parts', as required. for'v telephone cords or similar purposes.

The invention is ful-ly described'in connection with the accompanying drawings, andI the novel features are, specifically pointed out. inthe claims. l

Figure L is. a plan view of a braiding macliine embodying my invention. Figs. 2v and 3 are diagrammatic views indicating dierent braidingcarrier movements which are' provided', for by proper manipulation of the switches indicated in Fig. 1; Fig. 2 being arranged for producing three separated tubular braids, and Fig. 3- for uniting'these in acompound. braid;` Fig. 4. indicates the inner and outer braiding-carrier movements provided' for; whereby two separate `concentric braids may be produced. Figs. 5

f and' 6and Figs. 7 and 8, are similar views to Fi s. 2' and 3, indicating modifications provi ingl respectively for .four tubular courses and` two tubular courses arranged.

in each case to be either operated as separate courses or run together for forming compound! braids. Figs. 9and=101are separate views off parts of. the novel switch' operating mechanism employed, the connections to which. are indicated inlFig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be understood that drive-gears for the bobbin-carriersare mounted as usual between 'the top-plate 1 of the machine and a bottom late, not shown, and that the ordinary braiding mechanism involved is well known in its general features; so that only the special arrangement of the racc-circle courses and of the controlling switches and particular switch operating mechanism shown, constituting the novel features of myinvention, need be specifically described.

It will be seen that in Fig. 1 three separate' tubular courses are provided, each compris- 6.0 mg, as shown, eight connecting race-circles;

the race-circles oi one course being indicated by the reference character 2, of a second course by 3, and ed the thi-rd course by 4.

` These separate courses are grouped teth'er 65 so that two adjoining race-circles o each course (marked respectively 2, 3, 'and 4), are connected in a circular series around a common braiding center 6; thesesi-X connected race-circles,. by. proper setting of the' switches shown, being adapted to' serve as an separate inner carriencourse' as indicated in. Fig. 4.` The three series of race-circles 2, 3 and 4,. are further connected by uniting race-circles 2b, 2h,.of one course with 75 adjacent race-circles 3. and 4b of the other two courses, and also uniting'raceircles 3c and 4c oi the latter courses thus enabling an outer carrier-course, as indicated inl Fig.

4,. to be formed by proper setting of the switches. The switches marked 10, L1 and 12,. are placed. at the connecting points of the racecircles as indicated in F lgs. L and 4,

so as to enable each approaching carrier to be directedi as desired., the movements of the switches being preferably controlled by special o erating mechanism as hereafter describe A core-guide 18 is provided'a-t the center of each. race-circle cou-rse 2 and 3, .for the passageof a cordor ofi a. conducting wire around. which; the tubularl braids are tobe formed asis well knownA in connection`witl1 the manufacture or telephone cords.

The operation. of the machine i11,manu facturing. telephone cords will be readily understood by reference to- Figs. 2 .and 8. Two unooveredwires beingl supplied throughthe cone-guides 18- to the centrali braiding lpoint (6) as usual; thccarriers are'operated',

yproper setting. 'of'. the switches, in the'man- 100 ner indicated'fin3Figr3, to separately cover these wires and atl the same time unitethem in a compound braid; certain carriers being. directed 1n the outer course as-indicatedby the dottedline;r certainothers on=each separate course 2, 3, or 4, as indicated by the solid lines; and certain others upon the inner course as indicated b the dot-anddash line; the result being the ormation of three tubes, two of which separately cover the core-wires,

and all of which are united ina compound braid. When a suliicient length of this form' has been produced, the run of the carriers is changed to that indicated in Flg. 2, three se arate tubular braids being formed, two ofp which inclose the core-wlres while the third one is empty and adapted to serve as a tie-cord as usual.

The three double-switches 10 (Fig. 1), on switch-shafts 20, are connected by rods 21 so as to be simultaneously operated; and the six single switches 12 are similarly connected by rods 22. The switches 10 are moved by a main rod 23 attached'to a cam-operated lever 24, and the vswitches 12 by a main rod 25 attached to a second cam-operated lever 26. rlhe cam 27 (Figs. 1, 9 and 10) for operating both of these levers, is vfeathered upon a camshaft 28 upon which is fixed a gear wheel 29 arrangedl in mesh -with the `carrier drivegears, and said cam is formed with an intermediate neutral portion 27l u on which one or other of said levers rides ldly while the other lever is being swung b the cam; the latter being automatically a justable longitudinally on its shaft 28 into proper position for operating one or other of the levers as desired. This adjustment of' the 'cam is efected as .indicated by a lever 29a to which a properly timed rocking movement is imparted as required through rods 30, 31 by any suitable mechanism, not shown, so that the respective .switches will be positively and directly set. It will'be understood that the so-called blind switches j 11 are merelyv pivoted parts swung bythe carriers th`emselves to properly complete the race-way at the junctlons. p

vIt is obvious that my improved machine may be employed for other uses than that particularly referred to above; ai`1d\that it may be readily modied without departing from the invention. For instance in Figs. 5 and 6 the employment of four different series o race-circles, 2, 3, 4 and 5 is indicated, insteady of three .as previousl described; and in Figs. 7 and 8, two on y are indicated'as embodying `the main featureof my invention. The special switch o erating mechanism shown is adapted to e ect. the

particular switch movements required in the positive andV simple manner practically essential to rapid and satisfactorybraiding as described, but different mechanism, operated foriinstance by'the wellknown jacquard apparatus might be substituted to eect these movements.

What I claim is 1. A braiding machine comprising two or more `independently-operative tubular carrier-courses, two race-circles from each of said courses being connected to form an vendless inner series, and switches at the connecting points of said courses, substantially as set forth.

2. A braiding machine comprising a numk-ber of independently-operative tubular carrier-courses groupedl around a common center, two race-circles from each of said courses being directly connected to form an endless inner series and the remaining race-circles being connected to form an endless outer series, and switchesV at the connecting points of said courses, substantially as set forth.

3. A braiding machine comprising a'nuniber of independently-operative .tubular carrier-courses grouped around a common center, two race-circles from each of said courses being directly connected to form an endless inner series and the remaining race-circles being connected to form an endless outer series, core-guides atl the centers of said courses and switches at the connecting points of said courses, substantially as set forth.

4. A braiding machine comprising a number of tubular carriercourses grouped around a common center, two race-circles from each of said coursesJ being directly connected to form an endless inner series and the remaining racecircles being connected to form an endless outer series, separate series of connected switches at the connecting points of said courses, a separate operating lever for each of said series of switches, 'and a continuously rotated and intermittently reciprocated cam engaging said levers to operate the same alternately substantially as set forth.

In a braidin machine comprising two series of connecte switches, separate operating levers for the res ective series and a continuously rotated and) intermittently reciprocated cam engaging said levers to operate the same alternately substantially as set forth.

6. In a braidin vmachine comprising two series of connecte switches, separate operating levers for the. respective series and a continuously rotated and intermittently rcciprocated cam having a neutral intermediate portion whereby said levers are alternately operated or held in determined position substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof, I aHix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT CARL RAHM. Witnesses:

D. M. STEWART. W. G. STEWART. 

